Sunday, November 29, 2009

it's nice to be back

Last night I picked up my knitting needles for the first time in a few weeks. As I began to work the yarn my fingers began to twitch, they were excited. It's been a while. The more I knit and wound the yarn in and around itself the more I felt myself unwind. Corny I know! but it's true. I've been so busy with lots of 'stuff' going on lately I find it so relaxing and almost comforting to sit down and just knit. *sigh*

I have started working on scarf that is an entrelac pattern. Entrelac is soo cool. I saw it done first on a scarf that was on display at a yarn store and I wanted it! It is a kind of diamond/checkered pattern and if you use self striping yarn when you knit it the result is beautiful. The pattern I found on Raverly used a special yarn called 'Noro Silk Garden" but I couldn't find any around here. One day I will get some though because it makes the pattern a gorgeous rainbow of so many colours. The yarn I found was Red Heart collage yarn in 'Blue wave' and I like how it is looking so far.

It is fun to knit in entrelac, it's not the usual mindless knitting that goes with most scarves. Not that I mind that, believe me I am ALL about knitting that does not require thinking.

But, sometimes, it's nice, to have to think a little.



Thursday, November 19, 2009

a great book

I realize I have been remiss in attending to my blogging duties. I am not setting a good track record for myself, but let me explain. I have been very busy for the last few weeks preparing for a huge event I am putting on. I have scarce had enough time to sleep let alone pick up my beloved knitting needles. I felt however that I must post something to keep the blog rolling...

I have decided to share with you an excellent book I read a couple months ago, I wonder if any of you have read it? The book is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and it is fabulous! The author blends within the orignal text and story of Pride and Prejudice an underlying story of zombie killing mayhem. Let me be the first to say I am not inclined to like Zombie- samurai-killing themed anything, books, movies I avoid them all, but this one I HAD to read. It actually wasn't so bad, at times a litte gruesome yet I was very entertained. Imagine the story of pride and prejudice with the occurance of killing zombies being a normal daily activity. The Bennet sisters are famed for their warrior skills, Lady Catherine is the greatest warrior in the country, Mr. Bingley is convinced Jane has been infected, doomed to become and zombie and that is how they convince him to leave Netherfield. Good, good, all good. I reccomend this book to everyone.


Since Jane Austen is the greatest author or all time, I suppose is should not be surprizing how many continuations, spin-off and retellings her books get. Though I was weary to try them at first I have found some INCREDIBLE, some sorely lacking and some great fun. This book I would throw into the great fun category.

Up next on my reading list: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre


Sunday, November 8, 2009

My First

I am working on making some videos of how to cast-on and knit etc. but in the meantime I thought I would share the first thing I ever knit.

I learned how to do the basic garter stitch (which is knitting every row) and then the stockinette stitch (which is knit one row purl one row). It made a cool bumpy kind of pattern on the scarf. Later I figured out if you alternate K,P,K,P,K,P,P over and over again it makes the cool bumpy pattern on both sides of the scarf. I made the scarf super long and it was great practice for learning the basic stitches

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